Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Jan 05: Shri M. Rama Rao, General Secretary, Block Congress Committee, Diglipur has raised the issue of non-plying of ships with bunk/cabins like Nalanda, Sindhu, Kalighat etc. between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder and its consequent problems to the general public of Diglipur.

Speaking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the General Secretary said that non-plying of ships like Nalanda, Nalanda, Sindhu, Kalighat etc. with bunk/cabins is causing significant disruptions and hardships to people of Diglipur. In fact, the medical referred patients are the worst affected owing to removing the service of these vessels on this route, he said.

Referring to the sailing schedule foreshore sector between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder, there reportedly is no sailing of Nalanda Sindhu, Kalighat etc on this sea route between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder right from 22nd December 2024 to 11th January 2025, instead, MV Strait Island, MV Jolly Buoy and MV Baratang have been placed in service/sailing between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder; and these small boats don’t have bunk/beds and have only seats, as such the referred patients, non-referred/common patients, elderly people are suffering, as they can’t be transported by these small boats with no beds/bunk Mr. Rao decried.

The medical referred patients are suffering owing to non-availability of specialist doctors in CHC, Diglipur in one hand, and non-plying of ships with bunk/cabins like Nalanda, Sindhu, Kalighat etc. between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder by the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) on the other hand, as observed by the General Secretary, BCC, Diglipur.

Mr. Rao said that he would write a letter to the higher authorities of the DSS and A & N Administration in this regard for plying of with bunk/cabins like Nalanda, Sindhu, Kalighat etc. between Sri Vijaya Puram and Diglipur via Mayabunder on regular basis thereby alleviating the sufferings of the patients and passengers of Diglipur, he further added.

Vijay Kumar & Vikramaditya
Togapur, Jan 05: Residents of Pahalgaon village and Chainpur Panchayat staged a roadblock protest in Togapur yesterday, demanding the cancellation of recent transfer orders for two government doctors currently serving at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Togapur. The PHC is the only major healthcare facility catering to patients from Chainpur, Hanspur, and nearby areas.
Villagers praised the exceptional treatment and compassionate behavior of the two doctors, highlighting how their dedicated service has significantly improved healthcare in the region. They expressed concern that transferring these doctors would severely impact the quality of medical care provided at the PHC.
The Deputy Commissioner of North and Middle Andaman, Mrs. Nandini Maharaj, reportedly arrived at the protest site to address the situation. She listened to the grievances of the villagers and acknowledged the validity of their concerns. As per reports, Mrs. Maharaj assured them that she would raise the issue with the Health Secretary and the Director of Health Services (DHS) to seek a resolution.
Other Senior officials from Mayabunder also attended the site to maintain law and order situation during the protest. However, the villagers warned that they would wait until Wednesday for a resolution, failing which they would be compelled to escalate their protest with an even larger demonstration.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Dec. 13: Diglipur Merchant Association has demanded for early installation of sufficient numbers of fire hydrants in Diglipur Bazaar area.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the President of Diglipur Merchant Association, Mr. Amarendra Nath Halder said that insufficient number of fire hydrants in Bazaar area is proving to be a major factor in evading the losses inflicted by the incidents of fire, especially during dry season. Diglipur Bazaar has significantly expanded in terms of its area over the last few years and the existing fire hydrants are reportedly insufficient for a big commercial area like Diglipur Bazaar, Mr. Halder emphasized. Besides, there are residential houses, congested structures located in the inner part and on the periphery of Diglipur Bazaar. As such, the installation of sufficient number of fire hydrants at the desired locations in Diglipur Bazaar area is extremely essential, the President further added. The President, Diglipur Merchant Association further said that he had approached the Assistant Commissioner with a representation and apprised him of the necessity of the installation of fire hydrants at the desired locations in Diglipur Bazaar area. The Assistant Commissioner heard the grievance submitted by Mr. Halder and then he reportedly forwarded the letter to the concerned higher Officials of the Fire Service for further course of action, Mr. Halder said. However, no fire hydrant has been installed in Diglipur Bazaar as yet, the DMA President further said. “I have seen no positive response from the concerned Department to facilitate its installation so far” alleged Mr. Halder. Hence, he has urged the Administration for early installation of fire hydrants at the desired locations in Diglipur Bazaar area on a priority basis.
Andaman Sheekha Daily posed questions to the Up-Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Subhashgram, Diglipur Mr. Ellan Chzellian on the matter and wanted to know more about the issue. The Up-Pradhan said that the Panchayat had already sent requisition of three numbers of more fire hydrants in Diglipur Bazaar area that are required to be preferably installed- one near DK Tower or Bepari Lodge, one at Madhupur Road and another one near old Fish Market. There are at present reportedly three fire hydrants in working condition and which are insufficient, the Up-Pradhan said. Advocating installation of three numbers of more fire hydrants in Diglipur Bazaar area, the Up-Pradhan said that during a fire incident, once a fire tender is exhausted of water, it takes a lot of time to approach a water source and till that time, damage caused by the fire is massive. Echoing the same voice, the Up-Pradhan also urged the Administration for early installation of the fire hydrants at the desired locations in Diglipur Bazaar area in order to ensure fire safety measures, he said.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Dec 09: Shri Dipankar Mistry, Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Diglipur has raised the problems of the commuters who travel by the STS buses and the Dept’s challenges owing to its insufficient number of buses.
According to information, the problems of the STS bus passengers has emerged owing to the shortage of STS buses of the State Transport Service, N & M Andaman. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, the Pramukh said that in the recent accident of the STS bus at Mayabunder claimed four innocent lives, and the bus which met with the accident didn’t meet the safety norms that a bus ought to be. It was reportedly an outdated and unsound bus and despite the STS Dept. had been reportedly plying it. After the tragic accident, the STS buses which didn’t meet the required standard in terms of its mechanical and electrical soundness were removed from the service. As a result of which, the STS Dept. N & M District doesn’t have the required number of buses with which the Dept. may provide the service to the public. The department’s new buses are being reportedly used for transporting school students. Now, it has become a matter of concern for the far-flung commuters who have to depend on the school bus trips. Now, these passengers have to wait reportedly for two to three hours for the bus and due to this reason the bus becomes overcrowded as well. Thus, the passengers have to face the wrath of the situation, the Pramukh said. And this is the reason why people are dissatisfied with STS Dept.
In this regard, the Pramukh has written a letter to the honourable Lieutenant Governor, A & N Islands, Raj Niwas, Sri Vijaya Puram on 23rd November 2024 in which he said that it is required to gauge the gravity of the situation and provide sufficient number of buses to the STS Dept. N & M Andaman District so that the Dept. may be able to provide regular bus service and make sufficient number of trips for the commuters, the Pramukh urged.

Rabindranath Biswas
Uttara/Diglipur, Nov. 28: Shri Prakash Mondal, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Uttara has pressed for early commencement of the work namely: “Re-Alignment of PPR pipe line for length of 2.90 km from old APWD CC Weir camp No.10 to main road NH-4 near Kallu Nallah Bridge (Phase-I)” by APWD, Kadamtala.
According to information, the existing pipeline infrastructure has been experiencing frequent breakdowns leading to severe water scarcity and improper drainage for the last twenty years in areas such as Uttara, Shantanu and Kadamtala. And as a result of which, the residents of these areas have been facing severe inconveniences, the Pradhan said.
The Pradhan, realizing the exigency and gravity of the situation, has reportedly written a letter to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Sri Vijaya Puram on 25th November 2024 apprising the authority of the sufferings of the residents owing to the old and damaged pipeline which often reportedly conks out, and the exigency of executing the pipeline work without further delay so as to alleviate the sufferings of the residents and also to ensure a safe and reliable water and sewage system, the Pradhan emphasized.
Accomplishment of the pipeline infrastructure will undeniably improve the living conditions of the residents of Uttara, Shantanu and Kadamtala, while incidental problems may also be arrested, the Pradhan further opined.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 14: The Pramukh, Panchayat Samiti, Diglipur Mr. Dipankar Mistry has pressed for a demand of setting up of a ”Defense Command Hospital” in Diglipur Sub-Division.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Dipankar Mistry said that he felt the necessity of a ”Defense Command Hospital” in Diglipur Sub-Division. Eulogizing INHS Dhanvantari, Sri Vijaya Puram for its magnificent health services which it has been providing to the defence personnel and general public in South Andaman since its establishment, the Pramukh has demanded for a”Defense Command Hospital” in Diglipur Sub-Division with similar kind of facility. Although there is a District Hospital at Mayabunder in North and Middle Andaman district, but due to lack of adequate doctors and specialists & equipment and facilities, patients do not get emergency treatment on time and they have to go to Sri Vijayapuram for their treatment, Mr. Mistry said.
The Pramukh has recently written a letter to the honourable Defense Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh said in his letter Mr. Mistry said that Diglipur is situated at a distance of 333 km from Sri Vijaya Puram and its geographical location is close to Coco Islands which is under the control/sovereignty of China, and due to which Diglipur is a very important place from the defense point of view. Due to the presence of defense forces, the people of Diglipur feel safe. At present, defense personnel of Coast Guards, Indian Navy and Air Force are deployed at different locations for the protection of Diglipur, he further said. Hence, establishing a Defense Command Hospital preferably at Madhupur village or at a suitable place to be determined in consultation with defense personnel will not only strengthen the security of our defence forces but will also improve the health of the local community, the Pramukh further insisted in his letter.

 

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 14: After nine glorious nights of Navratri filled with joy, devotion, and play, Goddess Durga finally returns to her heavenly abode with Durga Visarjan on the day of Vijayadashami or Dussehra of the festival. It’s a day of mixed feelings – joy for having celebrated the goddess’s arrival and sadness as she returns to her heavenly abode. In fact, it’s not just about immersing Maa Durga idols in water, it’s a celebration of faith, community, and love for the divine mother.
In Diglipur, Durga Puja which started on 09th October culminated on 12th October 2024. However, out of three Durga Puja Committees in Diglipur Bazaar, two committees namely- Children Park Committee and Nabo Durgatostsav Committee gave Visarjan of Maa Durga in the evening today and was marked by grand processions, music, dance, and a lot of emotion. During the processions, people carried the beautifully crafted idols of Durga towards the Kalpong River for immersion.
While the ritual marked the end of the puja, the day was more about bidding a heartfelt farewell to the goddess. Devotees prayed to her, seeking her blessings for the year ahead and inviting her to return next year with renewed joy and happiness. It was a bittersweet moment, where devotees chanted Asche Bochor Abar Hobe (Next year, it will happen again), affirming their faith in Durga’s return.
Before Maa Durga Visarjan, women performed the Sindoor Khela which is a part of the Visarjan ritual and a vibrant celebration where women devotees applied vermillion (sindoor), to each other’s faces, symbolizing the joy of Durga’s victory over evil.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Oct 07: The whole Diglipur town is in festive mood and like every year the entire Bengali community here has come together for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations; preparations for the Puja festival are underway in full swing.
On the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, Durga Puja organizers, immersed in last-minute preparations, seemed anxious about completing pandals and decorations on time. In fact, during these five-six days, the Diglipur town immerses itself in celebrating the Goddess.
Similarly, various stall-keepers were seen busy decorating their stalls with festival goods and eye-catching decorations to lure customers as many as possible in the festive days.
Durga Puja is celebrated at three (03) places in Diglipur Bazaar area: Sarbojanin Sri Sri Durga Puja celebrated at old Vegetable Market being the oldest one is organized by Vegetable Market Durga Puja Committee, Durga Puja celebrated at Children Park and is organized by Children Park Committee and Sarbojanin Sri Sri Durga Puja celebrated near Goenka’s is organized by Nabo Durgatostsav Committee, Diglipur. Vegetable Market Durga Puja Committee is celebrating its 67th Durga Puja this year.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Sept. 15: It has been a couple of years since the diversion of land to House Site & Commercial Site was put on a hold in N & M Andaman as well as South Andaman Districts and which has triggered a number of hurdles for the people.
According to information, people are not in a condition to build their houses despite having their own land. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily a person, grappling with resultant situation said, “The irony is that, whenever we start constructing our house over our own land, the Revenue Officials immediately imposes restrictions on the construction on the pretext that the land hasn’t been diverted to a house site, while to our utter dismay, the very Revenue Dept. has stopped the process of diversion of land into house site as well as commercial, and it is really beyond one’s comprehension.” Things are becoming critical here day by day, he bemoaned. “I arranged materials for the purpose of construction of my residential house with my hard-earned money, but I can’t start the construction work of my house because the land is yet to be diverted to a house site”, said another individual wrestling with the situation thrown by the Administration’s decision of holding back the process of diversion of land to house site & commercial site.
On the other hand, the unemployed aspirants intending to set up business establishments on their land are being severely affected due to the cessation of diversion of land in commercial site and which needs to be resumed on priority, rued a group of unemployed youths. Expressing their chagrin over the Administration’s shelving the process of diversion of land to House Site & Commercial Site, the veterans of different NGOs and the stakeholders in Diglipur said that the Administration should resume the diversion of land to House Site & Commercial Site without further delay in the larger interests of the unemployed youths and the stakeholders.

Rabindranath Biswas
Basantipur/Diglipur, Sept. 04: The residents of Prafullanagar and Pareshnagar under Gram Panchayat Basantipur, Middle Andaman have decried failure of authorities to undertake repairs of dilapidated rural roads in the locality.
According to information, the connecting Rural Road from Govt. Primary School Badam Nallah to Manoranjan Das at Prafullanagar (total length of 1.815 kms) and Rural Road from ATR to Manick Pulley House at Pareshnagar Anganwadi (total length of 1.060 kms) under Gram Panchayat Basantipur, Middle Andaman, have deteriorated significantly, causing immense hardship for residents and vehicle owners alike.
These two rural road’s deplorable condition has sparked widespread outrage among the residents, who claim that the concerned department’s failure to repair the stretches of these roads has exacerbated the issue, the Pradhan said.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Shri Ramkrishna Roy, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Basantipur, Middle Andaman said that large swathes of these two rural roads are lying dangerously strewn with potholes and are becoming awfully unsafe for the residents and motorists for the last 5-7 years.
He further informed that these two rural roads were under PRI and which were later handed over to the APWD, but the concerned department has reportedly failed to float tenders for the repair of the roads owing to reasons known to the department. However, the Pradhan further alleged that estimates of these two roads were reportedly rejected two times which further caused undesired delay in floating tenders.
On the other hand, the patches of these two rural roads in question have become a source of inconveniences for pregnant women, children, students and elderly and also for the motorists, the Pradhan said.
These two rural roads are in dilapidated condition for half a decade and the residents of the regions are falling victims to it, he decried. The Pradhan urged the concerned authority to ensure immediate repairs of these two dilapidated roads in the area for the safe movements of the residents as life is precious, he said.
However, Andaman Sheekha Daily when tried to contact the APWD officials over phone to know more on the matter, the phone calls were found not reachable.